Funding For Assisted Living Facilities

Source: AARP.org | June 26, 2002

AARP recently commissioned an extensive survey of our Connecticut members on assisted living. A randomly selected sample of 803 AARP members from Connecticut was interviewed in December, 2001. The survey found that:

• AARP members have a desire to age in place;
• most are not confident in their ability to afford assisted living;
• most would support making this long-term care option more affordable; and,
• members support strong state oversight and regulations for the industry.

Read a detailed summary of the survey results or the full report.

Based on this strong message from our members, AARP Connecticut is supporting Senate Bill No. 23. This legislation would create a pilot program to provide Medicaid and state-funded coverage for assisted living facilities. This bill appropriately addresses the plight of those who exhaust their savings paying for assisted living and then must move into nursing homes at Medicaid expense. Current state and Medicaid programs will pay for nursing home care, but not assisted living. Unnecessary nursing home placement makes little sense when the State could permit continued residence at an assisted living facility at lower cost.

AARP will continue to work on more state funding and for changes in the law to better protect residents in assisted living facilities. To stay informed or to work with AARP Connecticut in this effort, join the Connecticut network of citizen advocates.

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